Latest news with #U.S.ArmyWarCollege
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China strengthens ties in Latin America with loans, cooperative deals
ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, May 22 (UPI) -- China is expanding its economic and political footprint in Latin America through billions of dollars in loans and cooperative deals, further challenging U.S. influence in the region. At the recent China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States forum, President Xi Jinping announced a $9.2 billion credit line for Latin America to support infrastructure, clean energy, artificial intelligence and digital connectivity. He also unveiled a three-year plan that covers more than 100 joint projects in trade, education, health and food security. In a move to ease travel, China will waive visa requirements for citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. China became South America's largest trading partner in 2020, surpassing the United States. Trade with the region topped $500 billion last year and is projected to reach $750 billion by 2035. Now, China is pushing beyond trade to secure long-term access to natural resources, markets and advanced technologies. "China wants stable access to key commodities like oil, copper, lithium and food," said Evan Ellis, a research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. "Through its state-owned companies and investment deals, it's building control over supply chains and seeking greater economic leverage." Ellis said China's strategy includes the raw material and high-tech sectors. "It's not just about buying resources. It's also about exporting advanced products and ensuring a political climate that welcomes Chinese firms," he said. Latin America's economies complement China's needs. The region has vast farmland and mineral reserves, while China's population of 1.4 billion people creates high demand for food and energy. Beijing already has invested nearly $180 billion across Latin America, according to Jorge Heine, a research professor focused on global studies at Boston University. "China's focus has shifted from mining to infrastructure -- ports, highways, power plants and telecom projects," Heine said. "In Colombia, they're supporting wind and solar projects. Brazil recently signed long-term agreements with China for science and tech cooperation." Scientific development is also part of China's global plan, according to Francisco Urdinez, director of the Center for Asian Studies at Chile's Pontifical Catholic University. "China wants to lead in fields like computer science and biomedicine," Urdinez said. "Partnerships with Latin American universities can help develop patents, especially in areas like vaccine research." In contrast to the Cold War superpower rivalry, China is not promoting a political ideology in Latin America. "This isn't the Soviet Union. China isn't exporting communism," Ellis said. "It's protecting its own growth and shielding itself from geopolitical threats, including U.S. pressure." Urdinez agreed, calling China's role mostly economic. "They're filling a gap left by the U.S. Their main tool is financial -- an enormous wallet, not ideology." Washington has pushed back. This week, the United States praised Panama for pulling out of China's Belt and Road Initiative and criticized Argentina for renewing a currency swap deal with Beijing. It also opposed international credit support for projects involving Chinese companies, including Bogotá's subway system. The China-CELAC Forum and the growing wave of Chinese-backed investments have deepened geopolitical tensions. U.S. officials see these moves as eroding their long-standing influence in Latin America, a region they have traditionally viewed as part of their strategic sphere. As Beijing builds stronger economic ties, the United States faces new pressure to reassert its role in the region -- or risk losing ground to its largest global rival.
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
China strengthens ties in Latin America with loans, cooperative deals
ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, May 22 (UPI) -- China is expanding its economic and political footprint in Latin America through billions of dollars in loans and cooperative deals, further challenging U.S. influence in the region. At the recent China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States forum, President Xi Jinping announced a $9.2 billion credit line for Latin America to support infrastructure, clean energy, artificial intelligence and digital connectivity. He also unveiled a three-year plan that covers more than 100 joint projects in trade, education, health and food security. In a move to ease travel, China will waive visa requirements for citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. China became South America's largest trading partner in 2020, surpassing the United States. Trade with the region topped $500 billion last year and is projected to reach $750 billion by 2035. Now, China is pushing beyond trade to secure long-term access to natural resources, markets and advanced technologies. "China wants stable access to key commodities like oil, copper, lithium and food," said Evan Ellis, a research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. "Through its state-owned companies and investment deals, it's building control over supply chains and seeking greater economic leverage." Ellis said China's strategy includes the raw material and high-tech sectors. "It's not just about buying resources. It's also about exporting advanced products and ensuring a political climate that welcomes Chinese firms," he said. Latin America's economies complement China's needs. The region has vast farmland and mineral reserves, while China's population of 1.4 billion people creates high demand for food and energy. Beijing already has invested nearly $180 billion across Latin America, according to Jorge Heine, a research professor focused on global studies at Boston University. "China's focus has shifted from mining to infrastructure -- ports, highways, power plants and telecom projects," Heine said. "In Colombia, they're supporting wind and solar projects. Brazil recently signed long-term agreements with China for science and tech cooperation." Scientific development is also part of China's global plan, according to Francisco Urdinez, director of the Center for Asian Studies at Chile's Pontifical Catholic University. "China wants to lead in fields like computer science and biomedicine," Urdinez said. "Partnerships with Latin American universities can help develop patents, especially in areas like vaccine research." In contrast to the Cold War superpower rivalry, China is not promoting a political ideology in Latin America. "This isn't the Soviet Union. China isn't exporting communism," Ellis said. "It's protecting its own growth and shielding itself from geopolitical threats, including U.S. pressure." Urdinez agreed, calling China's role mostly economic. "They're filling a gap left by the U.S. Their main tool is financial -- an enormous wallet, not ideology." Washington has pushed back. This week, the United States praised Panama for pulling out of China's Belt and Road Initiative and criticized Argentina for renewing a currency swap deal with Beijing. It also opposed international credit support for projects involving Chinese companies, including Bogotá's subway system. The China-CELAC Forum and the growing wave of Chinese-backed investments have deepened geopolitical tensions. U.S. officials see these moves as eroding their long-standing influence in Latin America, a region they have traditionally viewed as part of their strategic sphere. As Beijing builds stronger economic ties, the United States faces new pressure to reassert its role in the region -- or risk losing ground to its largest global rival. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
22-05-2025
- Business
- UPI
China strengthens ties in Latin America with loans, cooperative deals
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently announced a $9.2 billion credit line for Latin America to support infrastructure, clean energy, artificial intelligence and digital connectivity, and he also unveiled a three-year plan that covers more than 100 joint projects in trade, education, health and food security. File photo by Paolo Aguilar/EPA-EFE ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, May 22 (UPI) -- China is expanding its economic and political footprint in Latin America through billions of dollars in loans and cooperative deals, further challenging U.S. influence in the region. At the recent China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States forum, President Xi Jinping announced a $9.2 billion credit line for Latin America to support infrastructure, clean energy, artificial intelligence and digital connectivity. He also unveiled a three-year plan that covers more than 100 joint projects in trade, education, health and food security. In a move to ease travel, China will waive visa requirements for citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. China became South America's largest trading partner in 2020, surpassing the United States. Trade with the region topped $500 billion last year and is projected to reach $750 billion by 2035. Now, China is pushing beyond trade to secure long-term access to natural resources, markets and advanced technologies. "China wants stable access to key commodities like oil, copper, lithium and food," said Evan Ellis, a research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. "Through its state-owned companies and investment deals, it's building control over supply chains and seeking greater economic leverage." Ellis said China's strategy includes the raw material and high-tech sectors. "It's not just about buying resources. It's also about exporting advanced products and ensuring a political climate that welcomes Chinese firms," he said. Latin America's economies complement China's needs. The region has vast farmland and mineral reserves, while China's population of 1.4 billion people creates high demand for food and energy. Beijing already has invested nearly $180 billion across Latin America, according to Jorge Heine, a research professor focused on global studies at Boston University. "China's focus has shifted from mining to infrastructure -- ports, highways, power plants and telecom projects," Heine said. "In Colombia, they're supporting wind and solar projects. Brazil recently signed long-term agreements with China for science and tech cooperation." Scientific development is also part of China's global plan, according to Francisco Urdinez, director of the Center for Asian Studies at Chile's Pontifical Catholic University. "China wants to lead in fields like computer science and biomedicine," Urdinez said. "Partnerships with Latin American universities can help develop patents, especially in areas like vaccine research." In contrast to the Cold War superpower rivalry, China is not promoting a political ideology in Latin America. "This isn't the Soviet Union. China isn't exporting communism," Ellis said. "It's protecting its own growth and shielding itself from geopolitical threats, including U.S. pressure." Urdinez agreed, calling China's role mostly economic. "They're filling a gap left by the U.S. Their main tool is financial -- an enormous wallet, not ideology." Washington has pushed back. This week, the United States praised Panama for pulling out of China's Belt and Road Initiative and criticized Argentina for renewing a currency swap deal with Beijing. It also opposed international credit support for projects involving Chinese companies, including Bogotá's subway system. The China-CELAC Forum and the growing wave of Chinese-backed investments have deepened geopolitical tensions. U.S. officials see these moves as eroding their long-standing influence in Latin America, a region they have traditionally viewed as part of their strategic sphere. As Beijing builds stronger economic ties, the United States faces new pressure to reassert its role in the region -- or risk losing ground to its largest global rival.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RATC principal to attend War College seminar
RUSSELL Russell Area Technology Center's principal will attend the 70th annual U.S. Army War College National Security Seminar this summer. Shawn Moore is one of 160 people selected — half are from foreign countries and the other half are from the United States, he said. The seminar takes place at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania. It's known as 'the most strategic 500 acres.' 'It's where they train the next generation of military leaders, political leaders … formulate on defense policy for the next several years,' Moore said. 'It's about making sure the United States is successful in the event of conflict, and that it never gets to a conflict.' Moore said his students and grandchildren motivated him to apply for the opportunity. He sent in an application and had to say why he was a good fit and what he could contribute. A selection committee whittled the list down from several hundred applications. Ret. Col. Lance A. O'Bryan, the Army representative for Kentucky, submitted Moore's paperwork to the selection committee. Col. JB Richmond, of the Kentucky Army National Guard, wrote a letter of recommendation for Moore. Richmond is formerly of Ashland. Moore said RATC offers cybersecurity, welding, electricity and medical courses — all can connect dots to the defense industry. 'Our area would be poised for defense industry jobs,' Moore said. 'We have a work force ready to go.' The goal of War College, Moore said, is to make America's Armed Forces so formidable that 'nobody wants to mess with us' and to 'ensure peace.' 'It's all about ways to keep current students safe,' Moore said. The first part of the seminar is a five-day orientation in June. 'We'll meet again throughout the year with trainings and different trips,' Moore said. Moore said he's been fortunate to have a variety of interesting experiences in life. This is the next one. 'It's humbling,' he said. (606) 326-2664 | asnyder@
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'8,700 servicemembers back...': Pentagon to welcome back troops discharged over COVID-19 vaccine
U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth talked about DEI, gender-neutral standards, bringing back soldiers who refused the COVID vaccine and other topics during a wide-ranging speech at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Wednesday morning. The secretary's helicopter touched down around 9 a.m. Around half an hour later, he spoke to students, family and faculty at the college. "We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind and refocusing on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards and readiness," he said. Show more Show less
